Mauser-Koka M1880

About the Mauser-Koka M1880

The Mauser-Koka M1880 is a single-shot, bolt-action service rifle adopted by the Kingdom of Serbia in 1880. Developed by Serbian major Kosta 'Koka' Milovanovic as an improved derivative of the Mauser Model 1871, it chambered the unique 10.15x63mmR Serbian black-powder cartridge and introduced Milovanovic's progressive rifling, in which the groove width narrows from breech to muzzle to improve ballistics. The rifle also added a bolt guide rail above the wrist, a coil spring on the safety lever, and an improved extractor and ejector. Early production came from the Mauser works at Oberndorf, with later manufacture at the Military Technical Institute in Kragujevac.

Named for its designer Kosta 'Koka' Milovanovic, the rifle is affectionately known in Serbian as the 'Kokinka.' Its progressive rifling was an early Serbian innovation aimed at squeezing more accuracy and velocity from a black-powder cartridge.

Mauser-Koka M1880 specifications

Officially the Serbian Model 1878/80. From 1907 roughly half of the surviving rifles were converted in Kragujevac to fire the 7x57mm Mauser cartridge from a five-round box magazine, using barrels purchased from Steyr.